Flatiron pressing stocking



Nov. 17, 1953 H. WELDON FLATIRON PRESSING STOCKING Filed May 1'7, 1950 Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES KATENT OFFICE This invention relates to an attachment for portable irons, such as flat iron and the like.

In the use of fiat irons of the type described, the danger of scorching, searing or burning the cloth being ironed is ever present due chiefly to the searing heat occasioned upon direct contact of the metal soleplate of the iron with the goods.

When contact between th iron and the goods...

because of inadvertance or otherwise, is unduly prolonged, the temperature of the goods may be raised to combustion point and the flame which results may cause dangerous fires. Although unintentional, searing, scorching and burning to some degree has been experienced by every operator.

Important also is the cumulative development of sheen or shine occasioned during ordinary ironing operations, especially with dress fabrics such as silk, nylon, rayon and the like and particularly with fabrics having black or dark color. To minimize the development of shine, which is unattractive and hard to remove, it has been the suggested practice to make use of a pressing cloth for separating the soleplate of the iron from the goods. The technique embodied in the use of a pressing cloth is objectionable to many because it is cumbersome and, as a result, its use is often dispensed with on many occasions when it rightfully should be used.

Another undesirable feature inherent in the use of flat irons arises in the objectionable buildup of foreign and discolored material on the soleplate of the iron. Such foreign materials are picked up from the goods being ironed-and, if organic in nature, decomposition or other reaction apparently occurs at the high temperatures to which they are exposed and necessitates cleaning the soleplate at frequent intervals.

In order to overcome these defects inherent in present iron construction, it is an object of this invention to produce an attachment which fits over the soleplate of the iron when in its mounted relation to separate the metal from the goods being ironed in a manner to protect the goods from the searing heat of the iron, minimize or entirely eliminate the development of shine on the goods, and separate the iron from the goods so that foreign material will not accumulate on the soleplate of the iron.

Another object is to produce an attachment to be used in juxtaposed relation with the soleplate of an iron, the attachment being formed of readily available low cost materials and which may be held on the iron with sufficient tension to maintain the desired mounted relation and to permit removal from the iron in an expedient manner.

A further object is to produce a new, simple, and low cost attachment for use with fiat irons to separate the soleplate from the goods being ironed during ironing operations.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an attachment embodying features of this invention in mounted relation on the iron.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the attachment shown in Figure 1 separate and apart from the iron;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of a portion of the attachment showing the fabric construction at the toe, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of attachment embodying features of this invention.

Briefly described, invention resides in an attachment for flat irons which separates the soleplate of the iron from the material being ironed. The attachment is formed of a heat resistant material capable of withstanding the temperatures to which the iron might be heated (400 to about 900 F.) without decomposition, physical change and without burning. In it mounted relation, the attachment covers all or part of the soleplate of the iron with means, forming a part thereof, for holding the attachment on the iron in a manner to tension that portion in juxtaposed relation with the soleplate for the purpose of forming a suitable ironing surface. The holding means are easily released to permit removal of the attachment from its mounted relation in the event that use of the iron in a normal manner is desired.

More specifically, as shown in the drawing, the attachment comprises a stocking A formed of heat resistant, fireproof material shaped to fit over the soleplate H] of an iron II with the side wall l3 of the attachment being shaped to slip over the lower side wall portion of the iron. Means associated with the attachment are provided for securing same to iron in position of use. To provide the most effective arrangement the bottom portion 14 of the attachment juxtaposed to the soleplate It is shaped substantially to conform to the contour of the soleplate with suliicient extra material to permit universal 3 adaptation of the attachment with most irons presently being marketed.

The side wall portion I3 of the stocking or attachment is shaped substantially to conform to the toe portion of the iron with sufiicient looseness in the side walls to enable the stocking, quickly and easily, to be slipped over the heel of the iron into position of use.

Snaps, clips, or other like fastening means may be provided in the sidewall portion 13-min association with the bottom" wall portion for en'- gagement in the usual manner with cooperating devices on the iron. In the alternative a hehi l may be provided all around the upperedge portion of the iron and a resilient member such as a coil spring It may be disposed 'thereiii to draw the upper edge portions inwardly about thewall portions 2| and 22which'converge toward the handle 23 of the-iron- The side wallportions 2| and 22 are providedwith openings 24 through which the attachmentmay be gripped by the fingers of the hand used to operate theiron.

Materials suitable for the use in the manufacture of attachments ofthetype described-may comprise substantially stifi or rigid substances formed of heat resistantorfire proof material. It is preferred however to form the attachment of a resilient fabric formed 'of-heat resistingand fire proof fibers suchas for example, inorganic fibers of the type glass fibers, mineral-wool fibers, asbestos fibers and the like or inorganic metallic filaments of iron, aluminum, steel, copper and the like plied together to form strands-which may be woven into suitable clothsc Of the inorganic fibers, glassfibe'rsare: the most suitable because they do not-1eave lintor the like on the fabrics being ironed. The-smooth, hard surfaces, characteristic-of glass-fibers, gives the desired slip for iro'ningand glass fibersare known to have high strength and'goo'd wear qi'ial ities. Since ironing. temperatures are usually excess of 400 F. but below 900 F., glass-fibers are able to function without decdmpo'siti'omhnd size, if any is employed toprevent destruction'of the fibers by mutual-abrasion, maybe-selected of heat stable materials' of similar morg'anic nature.

When strands of wovenmetallie filaments are used, heat conductivity of a high'order is' seciiredj without subjecting the goods being ironed by direct contact to the intensive searing heat of the soleplate. It is perhaps in this r'espect'tl'iat much of the improvement lies inthis invention. It may be thatin' the use'of an attachmentof the type described the heat of' the soleplate reaches the goods mainly by radiation through the interstices between the fibers of the fabric as" compared to-the searing heat of thesoleplate transferred to the fabric by direct contact.

In operation, the attachment is slipped over the soleplate and pulled over the lower portion of the iron-in the eventthat it is in the form of a stocking. To assist the drawing of the stocking over the iron, tabs 25 integral with the upper edge portion of the stocking may be used. If elastic means are employed for holding the attachment onto the iron, the mounted relation is automatically achieved and maintained. Other securing means may be rendered effective in the usual manner.

In its mounted relation, the attachment forms a part of the iron and that portion juxtaposed to thesoleplatemoves with the iron over the cloth being ironed. As used; itseparate's the iron from the cloth, prevents direct transfer of searifig heat from the soleplate to the goods being ironed militates against the development of sheenor shine, and minimizes the possibility of t-hesm'emate picking up foreign substances that causediscoloration and lower the efficiency of the iron.

ltwi'll be understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement, and Y operation without departing from the spirit of: the invention, especially as defined. in the following claims;

What .is claimed; is:

1. An attachment for use in combination with aflat iron havingasole plate forming the under side thereof-heated for ironing operations-com prising a .resilientstocking woven of glass fibers and shapedsubstantially to conform to the con tour oftheironwith a'central portion positioned adjacent theunderside of the :sole plate and side wall portions extending upwardly therefrom all aioundto embrace the side wall portions of the iron; a-herndn-the:v upper edge of the side wall portions and draw tapes threaded through the hem todraw theside wallportions about the iron thereby tote'nsion the stockinginposition of use about the iron.

2. An attachment for use in combination with aiflat iron having-asole plate forming-the underside thereoflhea'ted-for ironing operations comprising a resilient stocking wovenof glass-fibers and-shaped substantiallyto conform to the contour of the iron with a central portion positioned adjacent the undersideof the sole plate and side wall portionsextending"upwardly therefrom all aroundto embrace-the sidewalls'of the iron, 9; slotted'opening in :the side wall portions adj acent the handle portion of theironthrough which-the fingers may be :extended when in position of use to tension the stocking about the iron.

3. In combination, a'flat'iron' having ahandle member, side wa11s,anua-so1e-p1ate forming the underside thereoradapted to be heated for 'ir'o'iiin'g operation'sand"airesilient stocking woven of glass-fibers and-shaped substantially to conform to theccntour of the iron with a-central portion positioned adjacent the underside of the sole plali jaill'd side wall portions 1 extending upwardly therefrom -a=l1 around-to erhrirace the side wails of' the iron and means the upper edgepor'tioii er the-"sidealls f ortensionirig the stocking about the-itch 'Wheir'ifi position of use.

HARRY WELDON.

References "Cited'in the file of this patent UNITED STATES-PATENTS Number Name Date 2,07%,159' Bailey a 1 a Mar. 16, 1937 2,299,202 Bass ..s -.-.a -Oct; 20,-1942' FOREIGN PATENTS Number; Country Date 284,957 Great Britain.. se 1928v 

